Like, it's where all the cool people go in Las Vegas.

Really, I'm trying not to revert to my high-school days (which, honestly were not all too cool), but such simplistic speak is the best way to capture the essence of The Palms. Towering on Flamingo off the east edge of the Strip, The Palms beckons to all those who are hip...or at least aspire to seem hip.

The MTV generation will immediately recognize the hotel & casino as home to the flesh-baring Las Vegas cast of "The Real World"; other reality-show fans might remember its lavender-hued pool as the picturesque setting of has-been child star Corey Feldman's melodramatic "meltdown" during the taping of the WB's "The Surreal Life". And for those of you of the name-dropping, Hollywood-gossip persuasion -- you've definitely read about The Palms in gossip columns nationwide; in fact, it oftentimes pops up in Ted Casablanca's "The Awful Truth" as the place spoiled celebs elect to party in Vegas.

So, when my gal pal and I had the opportunity to experience the Palms firsthand, we jumped at it. Not only were we going to spend a day relaxing in the hotel's spa, we were determined to try one of Vegas's "best martinis", described as such by Mötley Crüe frontman (and Feldman's "Surreal Life" co-star) Vince Neil. Ahhh yes...two Detroit girls were ready for some star-like treatment.

And did the Palms ever deliver.

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We had the strangest sense of déjà vu when stepping through the crystal clear sliding glass doors of the Palms. We had never been there before, yet we'd watched episode upon episode of The Real World: Las Vegas. It's much like the sensation of walking into the Bellagio and suddenly picturing every delicious moment of Ocean's Eleven (yeah, we did that too -- but that's a totally different story). (CONTINUE...)